Downloaded from http://bjsm.bmj.com/ on March 3, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
BJSM Online First, published on March 2, 2015 as 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094645 Mobile App User Guides
Ankle: avoid another ankle sprain! Evert Verhagen1,2 1
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2 Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, VU University Medical Center & Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Correspondence to Dr Evert Verhagen, Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands; [email protected] Accepted 7 February 2015
To cite: Verhagen E. Br J Sports Med Published Online First: [ please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bjsports-2015-094645
The ankle app contains an 8-week neuromuscular exercise programme that aims to reduce the risk of recurrent ankle sprains. The effectiveness of the programme is supported by high-quality studies. When the app is opened for the first time, the content and use is explained. The user then accesses a settings screen, where a starting date is chosen and three training days per week are designated. These settings provide the user with a personalised training plan. Push notifications can be chosen to remind the user of a planned training session. The strength of this feature is that the user has a fully preplanned exercise programme that can improve adherence to the regimen. The downside is that the app strictly follows the chosen schedule and it is not possible to postpone a planned exercise to another day. The app was setup this way to ensure the exercise programme is similar to those in the literature that showed efficacy in reducing recurrent sprains. There are eight exercises to complete in three training sessions per week. Each exercise is clearly described and an animation shows the user the correct way to perform each exercise. Progress is tracked throughout the programme, and a warning is given when the app notices the user is not adhering to the exercise programme. Motivation to complete the programme is given by app rewards that are earned after each completed session.
USE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE This app is targeted at patients (athletes and nonathletes) who have suffered an ankle sprain. It can also be used by healthy athletes who participate in sports with a high risk of ankle sprains and by people with functional ankle instability. While the app contains an exercise programme that has been shown to reduce ankle sprain recurrence risk after an initial sprain, the app can be recommended to patients and athletes who have completed rehabilitation. They can be guided by the app to continue beneficial exercises at home.
PROS ▸ Clean and simple design ▸ Clear ‘fool-proof ’ explanation of exercises, accompanied by an instructional animation ▸ A clearly defined 8-week exercise programme ▸ Guidance and feedback during the programme.
CONS ▸ The exercise programme is rigid and does not allow the user to stray from the prescribed regimen ▸ The app has a nominal cost ▸ Exercises cannot be previewed (an update is in progress). Competing interests None. Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
Verhagen E. Br J Sports Med 2015;0:1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-094645
Copyright Article author (or their employer) 2015. Produced by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd under licence.
1
Downloaded from http://bjsm.bmj.com/ on March 3, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Ankle: avoid another ankle sprain! Evert Verhagen Br J Sports Med published online February 25, 2015
Updated information and services can be found at: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2015/03/02/bjsports-2015-094645
These include:
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Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections Injury (852) Trauma (765) Ankle instability (23)
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
BJSM Online First, published on March 2, 2015 as 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094645 Mobile App User Guides
Ankle: avoid another ankle sprain! Evert Verhagen1,2 1
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2 Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, VU University Medical Center & Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Correspondence to Dr Evert Verhagen, Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands; [email protected] Accepted 7 February 2015
To cite: Verhagen E. Br J Sports Med Published Online First: [ please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bjsports-2015-094645
The ankle app contains an 8-week neuromuscular exercise programme that aims to reduce the risk of recurrent ankle sprains. The effectiveness of the programme is supported by high-quality studies. When the app is opened for the first time, the content and use is explained. The user then accesses a settings screen, where a starting date is chosen and three training days per week are designated. These settings provide the user with a personalised training plan. Push notifications can be chosen to remind the user of a planned training session. The strength of this feature is that the user has a fully preplanned exercise programme that can improve adherence to the regimen. The downside is that the app strictly follows the chosen schedule and it is not possible to postpone a planned exercise to another day. The app was setup this way to ensure the exercise programme is similar to those in the literature that showed efficacy in reducing recurrent sprains. There are eight exercises to complete in three training sessions per week. Each exercise is clearly described and an animation shows the user the correct way to perform each exercise. Progress is tracked throughout the programme, and a warning is given when the app notices the user is not adhering to the exercise programme. Motivation to complete the programme is given by app rewards that are earned after each completed session.
USE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE This app is targeted at patients (athletes and nonathletes) who have suffered an ankle sprain. It can also be used by healthy athletes who participate in sports with a high risk of ankle sprains and by people with functional ankle instability. While the app contains an exercise programme that has been shown to reduce ankle sprain recurrence risk after an initial sprain, the app can be recommended to patients and athletes who have completed rehabilitation. They can be guided by the app to continue beneficial exercises at home.
PROS ▸ Clean and simple design ▸ Clear ‘fool-proof ’ explanation of exercises, accompanied by an instructional animation ▸ A clearly defined 8-week exercise programme ▸ Guidance and feedback during the programme.
CONS ▸ The exercise programme is rigid and does not allow the user to stray from the prescribed regimen ▸ The app has a nominal cost ▸ Exercises cannot be previewed (an update is in progress). Competing interests None. Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
Verhagen E. Br J Sports Med 2015;0:1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-094645
Copyright Article author (or their employer) 2015. Produced by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd under licence.
1
Downloaded from http://bjsm.bmj.com/ on March 3, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Ankle: avoid another ankle sprain! Evert Verhagen Br J Sports Med published online February 25, 2015
Updated information and services can be found at: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2015/03/02/bjsports-2015-094645
These include:
Email alerting service
Topic Collections
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections Injury (852) Trauma (765) Ankle instability (23)
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
